World's deadliest mushrooms discovered near children's playground

May 09, 2017

Ingesting a death cap mushroom can cause organ failure and death.

The Death Cap Mushroom explained00:11:47

Botanic Gardens Victoria scientist Doctor Tom May describes the Death Cap mushroom. The poisonous Death Cap has flourished across Victoria ahead of the mushroom season in Autumn. (AAP Video/Rachel Gray)

05 May 2017

2 years

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A deadly mushroom has been found growing in a popular city park in Tasmania for the first time.

The mushroom – which can cause death painfully and quickly - has been spotted in other Australian states regularly, but never reported on the island state.

The “death cap” mushrooms, were found near a children’s playground at City Park in Launceston.

University of Tasmania mycologist Genevieve Gates reported the toxic fungi to the Launceston City Council after it was found growing at the base of an oak tree.

Dr Gates told the ABC the dangerous fungi could look like edible mushrooms.

“The mushroom in City Park changed to a pale brown colour, and this is the problem. When it gets to the pale brown cap it resembles an edible mushroom and it can even also become quite white … so there are a lot of traps out there with eating fungi from the wild,” she says.

Dr Gates said it was likely the mushroom was brought over from the mainland with oak seedlings before quarantining was introduced and it was likely it had been seen in Tasmania before, but never reported.

Distinctive characters of the death cap mushrooms are the white gills, the greenish cap and the skirt-like hanging ring on the stem. Source: Supplied.

What happens if you ingest a toxic mushroom

Amanita phalloides or Death Cap mushrooms are highly poisonous and usually found under oak trees in parks and gardens.

Eating just one can be fatal. Symptoms of poisoning are typically delayed and do not appear for six to 36 hours after ingestion.

Initial symptoms include abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea. That may subside, but eventually, there is a high mortality due to organ damage, particularly liver failure.

Council removing the toxic mushrooms

Launceston Council warned its residents on Facebook after the mushroom discovery in City Park.

Parks staff are on the lookout for this species and have been told to report it and then eradicate it.

“We remind people NOT to pick or eat or allow children or pets to touch or eat anything they are unsure about from parks and reserves, especially fungi of any kind," the post reads.

“This particular species is commonly found growing near established oak trees, and people with oak trees on their properties may wish to check their surrounds.”

Mr Van Zetten said this was the first time the mushroom had been reported in the Launceston area, but he had heard of the deadly mushroom appearing in Victoria and Canberra.

Death capmushrooms have been found in Victoria, Canberra and Tasmania. Source: News Corp.

Since 2002, four people have died in the ACT from eating toxic mushrooms

Residents of Canberra and Victoria have also been warned not to pick mushrooms after an abundance of toxic death caps were found in both states.

"With the recent wet weather, Death Cap mushrooms have been found in several locations across Canberra. They grow mainly near established oak trees in mild, moist weather," ACT chief health officer Paul Kelly said in April.

In Victoria, they have sprouted in parks and gardens in Melbourne, as well as fields in regional areas.

Since 2002, four people have died in the ACT and others have been poisoned after eating the mushrooms.

The most recent death in Australia happened in 2012, when two people were poisoned after eating death caps at a New Year's Eve dinner party.

People are urged to buy their mushrooms from the supermarket rather than picking wild varieties.

The Death Cap Mushroom explained42475

Botanic Gardens Victoria scientist Doctor Tom May describes the Death Cap mushroom. The poisonous Death Cap has flourished across Victoria ahead of the mushroom season in Autumn. (AAP Video/Rachel Gray)

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